Michelle Gabriela, Jakarta – Jakarta - As Indonesia's 80th Independence Day approaches, a new trend has surfaced on social media: the hoisting of the One Piece flag, also known as the Jolly Roger, a pirate emblem from the Japanese anime series by Eiichiro Oda. The flag has been spotted in several homes and vehicles.
Featuring a skull and crossbones, the flag is flown by some as a way to express disappointment with the government's performance and to protest against current social and political conditions. Here are some recent incidents involving the sweeping and raising of the One Piece flag in various regions.
1. Bogor, West Java
University of Riau student Kharik Anhar, who joined the action, said a WhatsApp group had circulated an appeal instructing neighborhood association leaders to report residents who raised the One Piece flag.
The reports would then be forwarded to the village supervisory non-commissioned officer (Babinsa) and community guidance officer (Bimas).
Kharik showed Tempo a screenshot of the appeal, which he said came from a colleague in Bogor. "This is clearly suppression. The Jolly Roger is a form of criticism against a corrupt system and corrupt individuals in this country, so why are they angry?" he said in a call on Sunday, August 3, 2025.
Head of Information at the Siliwangi Regional Military Command III, Colonel Infantry Mahmuddin, said the Siliwangi III Post had checked the information and confirmed that there was no instruction for neighborhood heads in South Bogor to report such cases to Babinsa or Bimas.
"The sweeping of the One Piece flag is not true," Mahmuddin said on Monday, August 4, 2025.
2. Kebayoran, South Jakarta
Riki Hidayat, a resident of Kebayoran, planned to display the One Piece flag in front of his home for Independence Day. He stressed that the act was not a betrayal of Indonesia but a form of protest against what he viewed as the government's failure to uphold citizens' rights.
"This is not about losing nationalism," Riki said. In his view, nationalism loses its meaning if the state fails to provide adequate protection in exchange for taxes. "I love the Motherland where I can live, but not one where I pay taxes without receiving equivalent rights," he added.
3. Depok, West Java
Rian, a resident of Depok, also planned to raise the flag, saying there was nothing to celebrate on Independence Day because many Indonesians still do not feel free. "So far, haven't we felt like we're not free?" he asked.
4. Kamisan Action, Jakarta
The One Piece flag was also flown during the Kamisan protest in front of the State Palace on August 7, 2025. On its 872nd edition, participants called for an end to the neglect and repression of critical voices.
Threats to those hoisting the One Piece flag
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan said certain groups were provoking the public to lower the dignity of the national flag, the Merah Putih, by replacing it with fictional symbols.
He urged the public to honor the sacrifices of past fighters and heroes, reminding that the Merah Putih represents the collective struggle of Indonesia's predecessors.
"As a great nation that respects history, we should refrain from provoking with symbols unrelated to our struggle," Budi said in a statement on Friday, August 1, 2025.
He warned that undermining the honor of the Merah Putih could have criminal consequences under Article 24 Paragraph 1 of Law No. 24 of 2009 on the Flag, Language, State Emblem, and National Anthem, which prohibits placing the national flag beneath another flag or symbol.
"The government will take firm and measured legal action if there is clear intent and provocation," he said, while acknowledging creative ways to celebrate Independence Day as long as they do not cross legal boundaries.
The Banten Regional Police also warned of firm action against those who deliberately raised the One Piece flag during the celebrations.
"If we find evidence of violations, we will act decisively," said Banten Deputy Police Chief Brigadier General Hengki on Saturday, August 2, 2025.
– Sapto Yunus, Eka Yudha Saputra, Dinda Shabrina, Novali Panji Nugroho, and Daniel Fajri contributed to the writing of this article.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2037648/those-who-refuse-to-lower-the-one-piece-fla